I’m so excited that our first annual National Superfoods Day is finally here! This term “superfood” has been thrown around for years, and I don’t think any of us really ever knows what people mean when they use it…

Is it some random ingredient you have to buy in powdered form for $30/bag at Whole Foods?

Or maybe it’s just anything with kale in it?

But what about berries? Everyone says berries are superfoods, right?!

You see where I’m going. Up until now, there has been no consensus on what superfoods are and no agreed upon definition. When Rhythm Superfoods reached out and asked if I could help them create a science-based inclusive definition for “superfood” I jumped at the opportunity.

I’ve been interested in nutrition since I was very young. Being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 5 years old was a game changer. I’ve had to think about every little thing I eat from the very beginning. While most kids ate whatever they wanted, when they wanted; I was the 7-year-old at the birthday party scraping the icing off my cake because I knew what it would do to my blood sugars (and because my mom made me, ha). See, unlike most kids, I knew that food directly affected how I felt and acted. Combine that with a grandmother who could bake like no other (and passed that skill onto me), and I developed a love for creating delicious, fun, and nourishing recipes.

Now, as a busy wife and mom I know the struggles that come with preparing and eating nutritious foods and meals, and just how hard feeding myself, my husband, and two tiny humans can be. Yes, even the dietitian struggles sometimes. And, I love showing people the nourishing potential of everyday foods like kale, beets, carrots, sweet potatoes, chia seeds, beans…I could keep going.

Superfoods aren’t just random, ancient (and expensive!) foods you read about in an article and have no clue what they are. They’re the fruits and vegetables you buy every day. They’re the nuts that provide loads of protein, antioxidants, and fats. They’re the medjool dates and coconuts loaded with potassium and antioxidants…

So get excited because adding superfoods into your diet is probably way easier than you thought it was. Check out www.nationalsuperfoodsday.com to learn more about National Superfoods Day, view our definition of what a superfood is, grab a few recipes, and participate in the celebration!